A graduate minority recruitment official cited insufficient resources as a major problem in attracting minority graduates to Penn State at Friday's University Board of Trustees meeting.

Catherine Lyons, director of the Center For Minority Graduate Opportunities, said minority graduate candidates are enrolling in other graduate schools that offer attractive fellowships.

Later in the meeting, Charles Hosler, dean of the graduate school and senior vice president for research, echoed Lyons' concern about the lack of fellowships Penn State has to offer to prospective graduate students.

"We're near the bottom of the list with regards to fellowships. There are only 20 fellowships available in the graduate school. A school like Penn State should have 200," Hosler said.

Richard McCarl, associate dean of the graduate school and director of the inter-college research program, said the fellowships Hosler refers to are funded through the graduate school's budget.

The fellowships pay for full tuition and a stipend, he added. Out-of-state tuition for graduates is $7,000 and slightly less for in-state graduates. The stipend portion is about $8,000, he said.

About 200 other fellowships are funded by companies and individual University departments and colleges, McCarl said. But these fellowships are geared for more specific purposes, and not comparable to the fellowships mentioned by Hosler.

"He is absolutely right in what he says. Two-hundred is our top goal," McCarl said.

At a press conference after Saturday's trustee's meeting, University President Bryce Jordan said increasing funds available to minority students is a goal for the remainder of the Campaign for Penn State.

"We're targeting $5 million for undergraduate and graduate minority students. That figure is slightly above $1 million as of now," Jordan said.

The Campaign is a six-year effort to raise $300 million for predetermined academic needs and priorities.

In her efforts to attract more minority students, Lyons said she is often faced with questions regarding the administration's commitment toward improving the minority environment at Penn State. She responds to these questions by acknowledging the problems, and allowing that improvements can be made.

"I have my own good experiences to offer as proof," Lyons said.

The administration plans to proceed with the efforts it has implemented to improve diversity at the University, Jordan said. "We're going to continue what we're doing. I'm convinced we are on the right track," he said.

Board President J. Lloyd Huck added "I resent any comments that the administration is not sincere" in its commitment to minorities.

Lyons offered statistics concerning Hispanic graduate students as a step toward improving minority recruitment.

"In the Fall of 1982, there were 91 Hispanics enrolled in the graduate school. In the fall of 1988, that figure was 131," she said.

Trustee Nancy V. Kidd asked Lyons if she was receiving any feedback from the families of these graduate students. Kidd said families have needs separate from those of graduate students.

Lyons said she offers those families packets with information concerning housing and school enrollment tips for children. The growing minority community within State College is providing an increasing number of support groups, including minority organizations and church groups, she added.

The center hopes to increase minority graduate enrollment and graduation rates and to offer opportunities for professional and personal improvement, she said.

"Although we concentrate on visiting black colleges, last year we travelled around the country to 50 different institutions for graduate school fairs," Lyons said.